Guatemala Agrees to Accept US Deportees From Other Nations in Deal With Rubio

Illegal immigrants will ultimately be sent to their home country at U.S. expense, the Guatemalan president said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo reach out to shake hands at the end of their joint news conference at the National Palace in Guatemala City, on Feb. 5, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via Reuters

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced on Feb. 5 that his nation would accept illegal immigrants from other countries being deported from the United States after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Titled the “Safe Third Country” agreement, Guatemala’s acceptance would act as a step in the ultimate U.S. plan to return all deportees to their home countries, which Arévalo said would be done at the United States’ expense.